Stop Blogging After You Read This
No, this isn’t the start of some form of web log chain mail. This is outrage about what is happening to Kathy Sierra, a lady blogger.
Kathy wrote: As I type this, I am supposed to be in San Diego, delivering a workshop at the ETech conference. But I’m not. I’m at home, with the doors locked, terrified. For the last four weeks, I’ve been getting death threat comments on this blog. But that’s not what pushed me over the edge. What finally did it was some disturbing threats of violence and sex posted on two other blogs… blogs authored and/or owned by a group that includes prominent bloggers.
Read what is happening to Kathy Sierra, a lady blogger. Be warned that the things said about her are NC-17, and will probably make you sick. I found the link on Scoble originally. I vomited, forever losing the nutritional value of the ramen noodles I had for lunch, after reading Kathy’s post.
I’d like to sit in a dream world and pretend there aren’t disgusting, vile, evil men out there who harass lady bloggers. I’d like to. But I can’t. I’d like to pretend this isn’t a BIG problem in the tech world, but I can’t.
All the time people complain that there are no females in the technology field. There are no lady IT specialists, no lady speakers at tech conferences… I WONDER WHY? Most women are over here in personal site communities, staying away from the tech community because of the truly vile men like that out there.
This post will remain here for a week. This issue will be heard. I ask everyone who reads this to follow in Scoble’s footsteps: post about this and don’t blog again for a week. People need to hear about this.
I pray for Kathy’s safety, and hope she gets the courage to blog again soon.
Uncategorized 
28 March 2007, 15:10
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I’m disapointed and shocked that highly respected people would condone and seemingly support these acts. I sympathize with the woman but I don’t agree with her actions.
By canceling her talks and staying locked up in her home she is letting these people win. I think it’s good that she took this to te authorities but she also needs to continue on with her life. By cowering behind locked doors she is showing these people that they have power over her and that is the one thing the depraved crave, power over their victims.
@Joana
Same here. It’s not that it happened, it’s that it was on a site backed by these respected people. And they didn’t immediately block the anonymous user’s IP or delete the comment.
That’s an interesting take on it. And I see the truth in it.
I agree with Joanna, I can understand her being afraid, but I don’t see why she’s reacting the way she is. By not doing anything but staying locked in her house she is in fact letting them get the best of her and it’s showing that their attempts to humiliate and defeat her have worked. She needs to hold her head up, report the crime(s) to the proper authorities, and move on. They’ll get their’s when the time comes.
That’s disgusting. Absolutely disgusting. Especially that photo. Christ. And the fact that these supposedly respectable people were involved just shows that anyone can be reduced to that kind of slime.
Although I must say, I’m not so sure hiding is the best way to deal with it.
Thats not right at all. I understand a little better little 12 year olds like the ones that came to MIK and told me to go get hit by a train, but highly respected people? And she’s just giving in to them! She should step out and be a strong, confident woman. The more power she gives to them by doing this the more they are going to enjoy it. The more she squrims the more they’ll do. I wish her the best of luck though. Oh how she needs it.
You know, some people really need lives. Why do these “highly respected people” find it so entertaining to do all those things? It’s terrible.
I don’t agree to this woman’s reactions either. Yes, you’re afraid, but cowering and locking yourself up isn’t going to make them go away. If anything, they’re going to see you’re vulnerable, and attack some more.
woah, i never knew somthing like that was happening. not cool! i hope she will be okay!
That’s really scary… I don’t think I wanted to know that things like that really happened… >
It’s so horrible that things like this go on. It makes me lose faith in humanity. I really hope that everything works out with Kathy’s predicament and that she will still have the strength to keep blogging. I couldn’t imagine something making me stop blogging. It makes me feel so much better and nobody should have to go through something like that which makes them stop.
Internet = place for all the freaks. It is quite scary to think of all the weirdos out there, around the world wide web… *shudder*
I do hope that those sleaze balls grow up and realise that what they are doing isn’t amusing anyone.
This is horrible. I don’t agree with her staying home and canceling her workshop. She would be better probably out at work and with friends. If they have her social security number they will have her address.